Resist device for stationary exercise device

ABSTRACT

A stationary exercise device includes a support device for cyclically and elliptically supporting two foot supports above a base, and a resist device coupled between the foot support and the support device for applying a resistive force to the foot support and for braking an elliptical movement of the foot support relative to the support device, the resist device includes two members slidably coupled together and moveable linearly relative to each other for applying a frictional and resistive force between the members and for resisting a linear movement between the members, and for resisting the elliptical movement of the foot support relative to the support device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stationary exercise device, and more particularly to an elliptical or stationary exercise device including a braking or resistive device for braking or resisting the elliptical movement of the exercise device, and for suitably controlling the elliptical movement or the actuation or the working or the operation of the elliptical exercise device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers comprise a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and arranged for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,072 to Chuang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,591 to Chuang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,018 to Chuang et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,611,446 to Chuang et al. disclose several of the typical elliptical or stepping or stationary exercise devices each comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member and the base support device and also coupled to the handles for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device by the user.

However, the movement of the foot supports relative to the upwardly extending frame member and the base support device may not be resisted or braked, i.e., the typical elliptical or stepping or stationary exercise devices have no brake or resistive devices provided for braking or resisting or retarding the movement of the foot supports relative to the upwardly extending frame member and the base support device such that the movement of the foot supports may not be suitably controlled.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical exercise devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stationary or elliptical exercise device including a braking or resistive device for braking or resisting the elliptical movement of the exercise device, and for suitably controlling the elliptical movement or the actuation or the working or the operation of the elliptical exercise device.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a stationary exercise device including an adjustable arrangement for suitably adjusting the braking force or resistance applied to the elliptical exercise device.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stationary or elliptical exercise device comprising a base, a pair of foot supports, a support device for supporting the foot supports above the base and for allowing the foot supports to move cyclically and elliptically relative to the base, and a resist device coupled between the foot support and the support device for applying a resistive force to the foot support and for braking an elliptical movement of the foot support relative to the support device, wherein the resist device includes a first member and a second member slidably coupled together and moveable linearly relative to each other for applying a frictional and resistive force between the first and the second members and for resisting a linear movement between the first and the second members, and thus for resisting the elliptical movement of the foot support relative to the support device.

The first member includes a cylindrical structure having a bore formed therein for slidably receiving and engaging with the second member. The resist device includes a brake element engaged into the bore of the first member and contacted or engaged with the second member for applying a frictional and resistive force between the first and the second members.

The first member includes two casings, and the brake element includes two shoe segments attached to the casings respectively and contacted or engaged with the second member for applying the frictional and resistive force onto the second member and thus for resisting the linear movement between the first and the second members.

The resist device includes at least one spring member engaged with the casings for applying a spring biasing force onto the casings and for biasing the shoe segments of the brake element toward each other and to engage with the second member and to apply the frictional force onto the second member.

The resist device includes at least one limiting member loosely coupled between the casings for loosely coupling the casings together, and the spring member is engaged onto the limiting member and engaged with the casings for applying the spring biasing force onto the casings.

The resist device includes at least one second limiting member loosely coupled between the casings for loosely coupling the casings together, and at least one second spring member engaged onto the second limiting member and engaged with the casings for applying the spring biasing force onto the casings.

The resist device includes a bracket engaged onto one of the casings and coupled to the limiting members, and an adjusting member engaged with the bracket and engaged with the casing for adjusting the limiting members and the spring members relative to the casings and for adjusting the spring biasing force of the spring members to the casings, and for adjusting the frictional or resistive or braking force of the shoe segments of the brake element to the second member.

The casings each include two flaps laterally and oppositely extended outwardly therefrom, and the limiting members are loosely coupled between the flaps of the casings for loosely coupling the casings together, and the spring members are attached or mounted or engaged onto the limiting members and engaged with the casings for applying the spring biasing force onto the casings and for biasing the shoe segments of the brake element toward each other and to engage with the second member and to apply the frictional force onto the second member.

The base includes an upright support extended upwardly from the base, and the support device includes a pair of handles pivotally coupled to the upright support with a spindle and to be pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of the base, the handles each include a hand grip provided for being grasped and held by a user and each include a lower portion, and the foot supports each include a front portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the handle respectively, and each include a foot pedal disposed thereon for supporting the user's feet, and the resist device is coupled between the foot support and the handle of the support device for applying a resistive force to the foot support and the handle and for braking an elliptical movement of the foot support relative to the support device.

The first member of the resist device is coupled to the handle respectively, and the second member of the resist device is coupled to the foot support respective for resisting or braking the movement between the handle and the foot support.

The support device includes a pair of cranks rotatably attached to the upright support with a pivot axle, the cranks each include a pivot rod extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from the pivot axle, and the foot supports each include a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link for allowing the middle portion of the foot support to be moved cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support of the base by the cranks.

The support device includes a rotary member rotatably attached to the upright support with the pivot axle for applying another resistive force to the cranks. The support device includes a wheel rotatably attached to the upright support and coupled to the rotary member with a coupling device for further applying an additional resistive force to the rotary member and the cranks.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a stationary exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the stationary exercise device;

FIGS. 4, 5 are side plan schematic views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating a brake or resistive device of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the brake or resistive device of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 8 is a side plan schematic view of the brake or resistive device of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 9 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the other arrangement of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the brake or resistive device of the stationary exercise device, taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is another cross sectional view similar to FIG. 10, illustrating the operation of the brake or resistive device of the stationary exercise device;

FIGS. 12, 13 are perspective views similar to FIGS. 1, 2, illustrating the further arrangement of the stationary exercise device; and

FIGS. 14, 15, 16 are side plan schematic view of the stationary exercise device as shown in FIGS. 12-13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a stationary exercise device in accordance with the present invention comprises a stationary base 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the base 10, a spindle 12 disposed or provided on the upper portion 13 of the upright support 11, a rotary member or pulley or wheel 20 pivotally or rotatably attached to the upright support 11, another wheel or pulley or rotary member or weight or flywheel 21 also pivotally or rotatably attached to the upright support 11 coupled to the wheel 20 with a coupling device 22, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing coupling device, or a belt 22 for allowing the rotary member or pulley or wheel 20 to be rotated or driven by the wheel 20.

The flywheel 21 may apply a resistive force against the wheel 20 for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20, the flywheel 21 and the wheel 20 are coupled together to form a resistive means or device for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20, however, the other resistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown) may also be used to apply the resistive force against the wheel 20. The flywheel 21 and the wheel 20 are typical and are not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details.

A pair of or two cranks 23 and a pulley or rotary member 24 are pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upper portion 13 of the upright support 11 with a pivot axle 25 such that the cranks 23 and the rotary member 24 may be pivoted or rotated relative to the upright support 11, the cranks 23 each include a pivot rod 26 provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the pivot axle 25, the rotary member 24 is coupled to the wheel 20 with another coupling device 27, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing coupling device, or a belt 27 for allowing the wheel 20 to be rotated or driven by the rotary member 24.

A pair of or two handles 30 include an upper or middle portion 31 attached or secured to the spindle 12 for allowing the handles 30 to be pivotally coupled to the upper portion 13 of the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 30 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The handles 30 each include a hand grip 32 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the user and for allowing the user to move or to pivot or to swing the handles 30 relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and the handles 30 each include a lower portion 33.

A pair of or two foot supports 50 each include a front portion 51 pivotally coupled the lower portion 33 of the handle 30 respectively for allowing the foot supports 50 to be pivotally coupled or attached to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the handles 30, and for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 30 to be moved or pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and for allowing the foot supports 50 to be adapted to move relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 in an elliptical moving path or moving stroke. The foot supports 50 each include a middle portion 52 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 23 with a link 53 for allowing the middle portions 52 or the foot supports 50 to be moved cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 23.

The foot supports 50 each include a foot pedal 54 disposed or provided thereon, such as disposed or provided on the rear portion thereof for supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the feet of the users to step and to operate or to actuate the foot supports 50 and to move cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The upright support 11 of the base 10 and/or the handles 30 and/or the links 53 and/or the cranks 23 altogether form and define a support device 1 for supporting the foot supports 50 on or above the base 10 and for allowing the foot supports 50 to move cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 and/or the handles 30 and/or the links 53 and/or the cranks 23 of the support device 1.

The present invention is further to provide a brake or resist device 7 attached or mounted or secured or coupled between the foot supports 50 and the support device 1 for applying a braking or resistive force against or to the foot supports 50 and for braking or resisting the cyclical or elliptical movement of the foot supports 50 relative to the support device 1. For example, the resist device 7 is attached or mounted or coupled between the foot supports 50 and the handles 30 of the support device 1 for braking or resisting the relative movement between the foot supports 50 and the handles 30 of the support device 1 and thus for braking or resisting the cyclical or elliptical movement of the foot supports 50 relative to the support device 1.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 12-16, the support device 1 may include a column 15 extended upwardly from the rear portion of the base 100 for cyclically or elliptically supporting the foot supports 501 together with the upright support 11 of the base 100, and for allowing the foot supports 501 to move cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support 11 and the column 15 of the base 100, and the resist device 7 may be attached or mounted or coupled between the foot supports 501 and the column 15 of the base 100 for braking or resisting the relative movement between the foot supports 501 and the column 15 of the base 100 and thus for braking or resisting the cyclical or elliptical movement of the foot supports 501 relative to the base 100 of the support device 1.

As shown in FIGS. 6-11, the resist device 7 includes a first or female member 70 and a second or male member 71 slidably attached or mounted or coupled together or engaged with each other, the second or male member 71 is attached or mounted or coupled to the respective foot support 50, and the first or female member 70 is attached or mounted or coupled to the respective handle 30 and includes a cylindrical structure having a bore 72 formed therein (FIG. 6) for slidably receiving or engaging with the second or male member 71 and for allowing the two members 70, 71 to be moved linearly relative to each other (FIGS. 10, 11). A brake shoe or element 73 is disposed or attached or mounted or secured or engaged into the bore 72 of the first or female member 70 and engaged with or between the two members 70, 71 for applying a braking or frictional or resistive force against or to or between the two members 70, 71 and for braking or resisting the linear movement between the two members 70, 71.

The first or female member 70 may include two half elements or segments or casings 74 each having two flanges or flaps 75 laterally and oppositely extended outwardly therefrom, and a number of spacers or bolts or fasteners or limiting members 76 loosely attached or mounted or coupled between the flaps 75 of the casings 74 for loosely or adjustably coupling the casings 74 together and for adjusting the resistance applied from the casings 74 and the brake element 73 to the second or male member 71, and a number of spring members 77 (FIGS. 6, 8) attached or mounted or engaged onto the limiting members 76 and engaged with the respective flaps 75 of the casings 74 for applying a spring biasing force against or onto the casings 74.

The brake element 73 includes one or more (such as two) shoe segments 78 (FIG. 6) attached or mounted or secured to the casings 74 respectively, and the spring members 77 are provided for biasing or forcing the shoe segments 78 of the brake element 73 to resiliently engage with the second or male member 71 and to suitably apply the braking or frictional or resistive force against or onto the second or male member 71. The resist device 7 may further include a bracket 79 engaged onto one of the casings 74 and coupled to one or more (such as two) of the limiting members 76, and a bolt or screw or fastener or adjusting member 80 is threaded or engaged with the bracket 79 and engaged with the casing 74 for moving or adjusting the limiting members 76 and the spring members 77 relative to the casings 74 and thus for adjusting the braking or frictional or resistive force of the shoe segments 78 of the brake element 73 against or onto the second or male member 71.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the shoe segments 78 of the brake element 73 may be biased or forced by the spring members 77 (FIGS. 6, 8) to resiliently engage with the second or male member 71 and to suitably apply the braking or frictional or resistive force against or onto the second or male member 71 and thus to apply the suitable braking or frictional or resistive force against or onto the second or male member 71, in order to brake or resist the sliding or linear movement between the two members 70, 71. The adjusting member 80 may be used to adjust the limiting members 76 and the spring members 77 to move relative to the casings 74 and thus to adjust the braking or frictional or resistive force of the shoe segments 78 of the brake element 73 against or onto the second or male member 71. As shown in FIG. 9, the bracket 79 and the adjusting member 80 may be removed, and each and all of the limiting members 76 may also be moved or adjusted relative to the casings 74 for adjusting the braking or frictional or resistive force of the shoe segments 78 of the brake element 73 (FIGS. 6, 10-11) against or onto the second or male member 71.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the foot supports 50 may be moved cyclically or elliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the handles 30 and/or by the user, and the foot supports 50 may thus be forced to move relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 and/or the handles 30, and the resist device 7 may be selectively coupled between the foot supports 50 and the handles 30 or the upright support 11 of the base 10 of the support device 1 for braking or resisting the relative movement between the foot supports 50 and the handles 30 or the upright support 11 of the support device 1 and thus for braking or resisting the cyclical or elliptical movement of the foot supports 50 relative to the support device 1.

Accordingly, the stationary or elliptical exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes a braking or resistive device for braking or resisting the elliptical movement of the exercise device, and for suitably controlling the elliptical movement or the actuation or the working or the operation of the elliptical exercise device, and includes an adjustable arrangement for suitably adjusting the braking force or resistance applied to the elliptical exercise device.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A stationary exercise device comprising: a base, a pair of foot supports, a support device for supporting said foot supports above said base and for allowing said foot supports to move cyclically and elliptically relative to said base, and a resist device coupled between said foot support and said support device for applying a resistive force to said foot support and for braking an elliptical movement of said foot support relative to said support device, wherein said resist device includes a first member and a second member slidably coupled together and moveable linearly relative to each other for applying a frictional and resistive force between said first and said second members and for resisting a linear movement between said first and said second members, and for resisting the elliptical movement of said foot support relative to said support device.
 2. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member includes a bore formed therein for slidably receiving and engaging with said second member.
 3. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resist device includes a brake element engaged into said bore of said first member and engaged with said second member.
 4. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first member includes two casings, and said brake element includes two shoe segments attached to said casings respectively and engaged with said second member.
 5. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said resist device includes at least one spring member engaged with said casings for applying a spring biasing force onto said casings and for biasing said shoe segments of said brake element to engage with said second member and to apply the frictional force onto said second member.
 6. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said resist device includes at least one limiting member loosely coupled between said casings for loosely coupling said casings together, and said at least one spring member is engaged onto said at least one limiting member.
 7. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resist device includes at least one second limiting member loosely coupled between said casings for loosely coupling said casings together, and at least one second spring member engaged onto said at least one second limiting member.
 8. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resist device includes a bracket engaged onto one of said casings and coupled to said at least one limiting member and said at least one second limiting member, and an adjusting member engaged with said bracket and engaged with said casing for adjusting said at least one limiting member and said at least one second limiting member and said at least one spring member and said at least one second spring member relative to said casings and for adjusting the frictional force of said shoe segments of said brake element to said second member.
 9. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said casings each include two flaps laterally and oppositely extended outwardly therefrom, and said at least one limiting member and said at least one second limiting member are loosely coupled between said flaps of said casings for loosely coupling said casings together.
 10. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes an upright support extended upwardly from said base, and said support device includes a pair of handles pivotally coupled to said upright support with a spindle and to be pivoted and swung relative to said upright support of said base, said handles each include a hand grip provided for being grasped and held by a user and each include a lower portion, and said foot supports each include a front portion pivotally coupled to said lower portion of said handle respectively, and each include a foot pedal disposed thereon for supporting the user's feet, and said resist device is coupled between said foot support and said handle of said support device.
 11. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first member of said resist device is coupled to said handle respectively, and said second member of said resist device is coupled to said foot support respective.
 12. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said support device includes a pair of cranks rotatably attached to said upright support with a pivot axle, said cranks each include a pivot rod extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from said pivot axle, and said foot supports each include a middle portion pivotally coupled to said pivot rod of said cranks with a link.
 13. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said support device includes a rotary member rotatably attached to said upright support with said pivot axle.
 14. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said support device includes a wheel rotatably attached to said upright support and coupled to said rotary member with a coupling device.
 15. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member includes two casings, and two shoe segments attached to said casings respectively and engaged with said second member.
 16. The stationary exercise device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said resist device includes at least one spring member for biasing said shoe segments of said brake element to engage with said second member and to apply the frictional force onto said second member. 